Scripture Reading
Joel 2:13
Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Reflection
The invitation to return is always grounded in who God is, not in what we have done. Repentance is possible because the One we return to is defined by grace, mercy, patience, and love. The God who "relents over disaster" is not reluctant to receive us but inclined toward us. The distance we feel is never God withdrawing; it is us having wandered. He is already turned toward you.
Prayer for Today
Our Lord gave St. Faustina a set of prayers to invoke His mercy, called the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. On standard rosary beads, pray the following prayers:
First, on the crucifix, one Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostles' Creed.
On each Our Father bead, pray: Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
On each Hail Mary bead, pray: For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Repeat for five decades. To conclude, pray three times: Holy God, holy mighty One, holy immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
First, on the crucifix, one Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostles' Creed.
On each Our Father bead, pray: Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
On each Hail Mary bead, pray: For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Repeat for five decades. To conclude, pray three times: Holy God, holy mighty One, holy immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Amen.